Sickle connection.



F. KRESS. SICKLE cowmecnou.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3. 1914.

1, 182,?75. Patented May 9, 1916.

woemtoa ark 5%? $3M THE COLUMBIA Pumoumu fl :0, WASHINGTON. D, C.

FRANK KR'ESS, F BROWNSVILLE, OREGON.

SICKLE CONNECTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1216.

Application filed June 3, 1914. Serial No. 842,749.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK Knnss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brownsville, in the county of Linn and State of Oregon, have invented new and useful Improvements in Sickle Connections, of which the following is a specification.

The primary purpose of this invention is the provision of a novel connection between tures,

-more particularly set forth,

the pitman and sickle or moving cutter of harvester, binder and mowing machine cutting mechanism, such connection being of a nature to automatically take up wear and maintain a close joint and which at the same time admits of the cutter being easily removed for sharpening or other purpose and quickly replaced.

The invention consists of the novel feadetails of construction and combination of parts, which hereinafter will be illustrated and claimed.

In the drawings hereto attached: Figure 1 is a detail view showing a joint between a pitman and sickle or cutter embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view, the dotted lines showing the position of the lever when the ball is about to be removed. Fig. 3 is a detail view.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description, and indicated in all the views of the drawings, by the same reference characters.

The numeral 1 designates the sickle or movable cutter of harvester, mower or reaper cutting mechanisms, such sickle or cutter being provided at one end with a head 2 terminating in a ball.

The numeral 3 designates the usual pitman for transmitting movement from the driving mechanism to the sickle or cutter for actuating the same. Plates a and 5 are secured to opposite sides of the pitman 3 and are formed with jaws at their outer ends which are recessed upon their inner faces to receive the ball of the head 2. Each of the plates 4 and 5 is formed with a longitudinal slot 6 and the plate a has a cross bar 7 midway of the slot 6. A lever of elbow shape has an end of its short arm 8 passing through the longitudinal slots 6 and formed with a hook 9 which engages the outer side of the cross bar 7. A pin 10 passing through an opening formed in the short arm 8 extends across the slot 6 and engages the outer side of the plate 5 and constitutes the fulcrum of the lever. The long arm 11 of the lever extends along one side of the pitman 3 and is made resilient so as to operate by a spring action. A link 12 connects the free end of the spring arm 11 with the pitman 3 and the connection may be so adjusted as to regulate the tension of the spring arm and the de ree of force exerted for drawing the jaws of the plates 1 and 5 together. An inclined portion 13 provided at one side of the pitman 3 is formed in its inclined face with a plurality of notches 1 1 which are adapted to receive the end of the link 12 engaging the part 13 thereby fixing the position of the link. By moving the link 12 along the pitman and spring arm of the lever the tension of the latter may be adjusted.

When it is required to disconnect the sickle or cutter 1 from the pitman 3, the link or connection 12 is moved to release the spring arm 11 and by throwing the freeend of such spring arm outward from the pitman, the hook 9 is disengaged from the cross bar 7 thereby admitting of the jaws at the outer ends of the plates 4: and 5 separating so as to release the head 2. After the sickle or cutter 1 has been sharpened, repaired or otherwise treated, the connection thereof with the pitman is readily made by passing the ball of the head 2 between the jaws of the plates 4 and 5, after which the short arm 8 of the lever is passed through the slots 6 and the lever turned to cause the hook 9 to engage the cross bar 7 and by moving the free end of the spring arm toward the pitman, the jaws of the plates 4 and 5 are drawn together and grip the head 2. By proper adjustment of the link or connection 12 any desired tension within certain limits may be obtained, thereby maintaining a close joint between the jaws and cutter head.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown 1s merely illustrative, and

that such changes may be made when desired as are Within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new is In a pitman rod connection, the combination of a ball member, a pitman rod, tWo jaW members adapted to receive the ball member between them and each provided With a slot, a spring lever having an end portion bent and adapted to pass through both slots in said members, a pin passing through and projecting from opposite sides of said lever adjacent the bent portion and pitman rod and adapted to hold the said end portion of said lever With said bar.

In testimony whereof I my signature in presence of'two Witnesses.

FRANK KRESS.

in tight contact WVitnesses:

R. W. TRIPP, H. PEGROFF.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

